Piano action



Sept. 14, 1926.

J. w. CARNES PIANOACT'IDN Filed Oct. 1,-, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheetl Sept. 141926; 1,599,743

.1. w. CARNES PIANO ACTIUN Filed Oct. 1, 1923 zsneets-sneez 2 INVENTOR's.\33&oxme.s

BY 7 Z ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 14, 1926.

JOHN WILSON CARNES, OF KEWANEE, ILLINOIS.

PIANO ACTION.

Application filed October 1, 1923.

My invention relates to piano actions, and it consists in thecombinations, constructions, and arrangements herein described andclaimed. 7 I

An object of my invention is to provide a piano action for uprightpianos, and which is designed to take u less room than other actions ofthe ty e, tiereby obviating the necessity of exten ing the piano casingto provide room for mechanical players.

A further object of my invention is to provide a piano action in whichthe arts are simplified, and in which there are ewer parts, without inany Way diminishing the effectiveness of the device.

A further object of my invention is to provide a piano action, in whichthe parts may be easily assembled or taken apart for repair orinspection.

Afurther object of my invention is to providea piano action which ismore responsive than the ordinary piano action, especially when uickstaccato notes are being played, as or instance, in trills where thereis a repeated striking of one key. In many pianos, the key may be struckin succession so rapidly that the hammer does not have time to completeits action, owing to the fact that it has to move back a predetea-mineddistance before it can be again thrown forward. The present deviceprovides a construction in which the hammer may be driven forwardlytoward the string again at any point in its backward movement. v

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification,and the novel features of the invention will be particularl pointed outin the appended claims.

y invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis application, in which I Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view,showing the piano action in its normal position of rest,

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the device,showing the parts in position when the hammer has hit the strin and hasrebounded, while the key is still depressed,

Fgure 3 is a sectional view showin position of the parts at the momenttheTi the mer is striking the string, and

Figures 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are detail views showing parts ofthe device. lncarrying out my invention, I make use Se1ial No. 665,981.

of the ordinary piano key 1 which, when depressed, raises the abstract2. The usual abstract flange 3 and abstract flange frame or extension 4are provided, the latter being mounted on the action bracket 5. Theabstract is connected with a wippen 6 which is suspended to theupper-action frame 7, and which bears the usual spoon 8 which engagesthe lower end of the damper lever 9, the latter being carried at the topof the frame 7 and being provided with the usual damper spring 10. Theusual damper lever is provided with a wire 11 which carries the damper12, the latter against the strings 13.

The construction thus far described is ordinary. Referring nowparticularly to Fig. 1, it will be seen that I have provided a ackflange 14 to which is pivoted a jack 15. .In the ordinary construction,this jack is made in the form of a bell-crank lever. In the presentinstance, however, it is not so made, but is provided with a jack spring16 having a coil to add flexibility and durability, which is fastened tothe wippen and which extends upwardly beyond the fulcrum point of thejack 15, this spring bearing on the jack toward the upper part thereof,as shown in the drawing, between felt guides 16", which prevent lateraldisplacement.

Itwill be seen that the upper-action. frame 7 is provided with a recess7 near its upper end. A metal loop 17 is passed around the pivot pin 18of the hammer butt 19, and the end is bent at right angles and isdisposed in the recess 7*. This metal loop is provided with a slot 17,through which a screw, 20 passes. The metal loop forms a hinge memberfor the hammerbutt 19. The in turned end prevents the hinge fromrotating about the screw 20, while the latter holds normally resting thehinge firmly to the upper-action frame.

By releasing the screw 20, the hammer butt may be immediately frame. Aswill be seen from Figure 2, the

hammer butt is provided with an arc-shaped portion 21, having inserts offelt 22, and an arc-shaped felt member 23 arranged to receive the thrustof the upper part of the jack 15. Below the arc-shaped felt member 23there is a portion 24 of the hammer butt to which is secured a feltstrip 25 in the form of a wippen; A trip 26 for the jack is formed by apiece of looped felt which is bound together at its contiguous edges,and Which" is held by an eye or loop 27 formed removed from the w in awire one 011-: the huninier hut through the tier stri ing' 21 in thejzicli. a.

P5) 111 the hurl; catc; ec

from the drawings. t tl.

0 upper end of c if heel at ranged to en- 'ioi dlr in position. thehammer shanlthus main lQtltllJx as stated 1. In this position, the jackis disposed close to the hammer hutt. with the *ontiguous to the tripQii.

hen ii oil the j; l in d LpY-varo ll L7 ni-tivcnient oi; the ahstract :1"he wippen, and thss tends 2 jack i'izine'e inore tnns flexing the jackrd movement of the rue hammer ahout its The continued upward cl; tend;to force it; away through the medium of a: at the end of the strokeposition against the abut- (1 l .71 1. .lne 115111111101", in tne henthrown. forwardly and 4 s rebounded oi: this type, it

1 strnie. a1;

nier butt. to have ntioi' or substanit is not necessary, r1 (e n I :1 w11 r (l 15'. s in any position t. which bears the arcshaped Pressing onthe 2e even when the dew shown ii Figure will ce in the position l tothe striihrow the hammer pert riusi cian often finds. in the ordinaryiii actuate the hammer to throw it This forms the main features oi the 1l It will he 1 rifz'idly held in position by means of the Wire This is:iPCOlllQliSllQtl by hendinn the at a point ll. where it passes throughi 1 hack catch. 1111i then hooking itv around te edge at l). The actionis that w .1 the rebound of the hammer the rnoi'enient of the hammerbutt. point where the wire 27 is attached. l the hack catch so as toengage to return it to its normal position.

important advantage of. my con- (lion over thof-Je in which hridlestraps tor insuring the return of the haml position t r: it} is that inrent construction. the "weight of the 011. and the 11hstract.\\'l1e11thehey is released. tend to swing e hammer hutt into its normal position.will he oliscrwd that the wire 27 passes rough 112 open. 3 as stated, inthe jack, h is oi c m'licient size to permit the full action of thejack. "hen. however. the key 1 the jack will descend, and tho; heengaged at the upper edge in ed that the hack catch is (.1 opening 28.and the weight of the eppl il outside of the pivotal p 1 the hummer huttto rcto ts original position.

or 'oi'idle tapes. the hznnn'ier may where the hearings hind. so i r eiii-idle st ap should he hrolien .1 any reason. or eaten through bymice, hzin' ancr 111:1 not return to it?v original r form according tothe present inor c rtain of action than the ll :1 hell crank lever, 1 onthe short. :1'111. 11 thit the coil spring on the 0H cranl-I lever tendsto exert tl e rca Son l shor arm 01 not in the direction in which the .ohe r turned. as 111 the case of-the 1 he, hut in such a direct-ion thatthe justment of the throw of the hammer. This can be very readily doneby turning the scriiw 36 so as to limit the movement of the ae Anotherfeature is the ease with which the parts can be released for inspectionor repair. For instance, in removing or tightenmg the screw 20, it isonly necessary to grasp the hooked portion of the wire 27 at the rear ofthe back catch 30, and to raise it, when the back catch may be swungrearwardly and the jack may be swung also rearwardly, both parts passingoff the end of the hook 42, and thus giving full access for a too], suchas a screw driver, to the screw 20.

The construction described eliminates a number of parts that are used inupright pianos, without sacrificin any of the eflectiveness of theaction. I n fact, the action is more responsive for the reasons stated,but this construction takes up a space of about an inch andthree-fourths less than the ordinary action, that is to say, measuringfrom front to rear in a horizontal di rection, an inch and three-fourthsor thereabouts is saved. This permits more room for the installation ofa mechanical player, and obviates the necessity of extending the casingthat much.

The elimination of parts renders the construction more economical, whichin itself is desirable from the point of manufacture.

I claim:

1. A iano action comprising a pivotally mounte hammer butt, having anarcshaped jack-engaging portion, a trip carried by the butt for movingsaid jack along said arc-shaped portion, means for actuating the jack tocause the hammer to strike the string at any point of engagement of thejack with the hammer butt, a back catch rigidly carried by said hammerbutt, and means carried by said back catch for regulating the extent ofmovement of the jack.

2. A iano action comprising a pivotally mounte hammer butt, having anarcshaped jack-engaging surface, a jack arranged to engage said hammerbutt and having an opening, a back catch pivoted to said butt and beingprovided with an opening, and a guide member rigidly secured at one endto said butt and arranged to extend through the openin s in said jackand said back catch, one en of said uide member being normally rigidlysecure to said back catch.

3. A iano action comprising a pivotally mcunte hammer butt, having anarcshaped jack-engaging surface, a jack arranged to engage said hammerbutt and having an opening, a back catch carried by said hammer butt,and a guide member arranged to pass through the opening in said jack,one end of said guide member being rigidly secured to the hammer butt,and the other end being rigidly secured to said back catch.

4. A piano action comprising a pivotally mounted hammer butt, having ajack-engagin surface, a wippen, an arm or flange rigidl y secured tosaid wippen, a jack pivotally mounted on said arm, a back catch carriedby said hammer butt, and a leaf spring carried by said wippen andarranged to engage the jack above its pivotal mounting to normally forcethe ack away from said back catch.

In a piano action, a wippen, an arm rigidly carried thereby, a jackpivotally carried by said arm, and a leaf spring rigidly secured to oneend of said wippen, the other end of said spring having a slidingengagement with said jack beyond its pivotal connection, and means forpreventing the lateral movement of the spring with respect to the jack.

6. A iano action comprising a pivotally mounte hammer butt, having anarcshaped jack-engaging portion, a trip carried by the butt for movingsaid jack along said arc-shaped portion, means for actuating the jack tocause the hammer to strike the string at any point of engagement of thejack with the hammer butt, a back catch rigidly carried by said hammerbutt, and a regulating screw carried by said back catch and arranged toextend through the latter for limiting the extent of movement of thejack toward the back catch.

In apiano action, a frame, a hammer butt pivotally mounted on saidframe, a back catch pivotally mounted on said hammer butt and having anopening, a trip carried by said hammer butt, a pivotally mounted jackhaving an opening, a guide wire havone end secured to said butt andarranged to pass through the openings in said jack and said back catch,one end of said guide wire being normally bent downwardly and beingrigidly secure to said back catch, said guide wire being flexible,whereby the downwardly bent end may be lifted to permit the pivoted backcatch and the pivoted jack to be moved off from said guide wire,

' thus affording access to the butt-supporting means.

JOHN WILSON CARN ES.

